Champagne is a favorite festive drink for holidays and special occasions. The light flavor and refreshing bubbles make us feel cheerful.
How do the bubbles get into bubbly? Is champagne carbonated? We’ll tell you all about it in plain English so you’ll be a champagne expert in no time.
Is Champagne Carbonated?
Champagne is carbonated, but not like a soda. True champagne is from France, and brewed by strict standards.
It is a different beverage than sparkling wines, made all over the world.
True champagne is carbonated by carbon dioxide gasses trapped in the liquid during the final fermentation process that occurs after bottling.
These gasses become infused in the liquid and bubble out during pouring.
To truly enjoy champagne, open the bottle slowly and carefully to allow the infused carbonation to settle and help develop the flavor and aroma of the champagne instead of flowing out of the top.
What is Champagne?
Champagne is a sparkling white wine produced from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France using only approved methods.
Any sparkling wine that does not adhere to these methods is not Champagne.
There are a wide variety of true champagne makers, with offerings ranging from very dry (Brut Naturelle) to sweet, sparkling dessert wine (Deux) and everything in-between.
If you have tried true champagne and didn’t like it, consider what you didn’t like (too dry, too sweet, too citrusy) and look for champagne with a different flavor and sweetness level.
What Is the Difference Between Champagne and Sparkling Wine?
There are a few major differences between champagne and sparkling wine. Many people prefer sparkling wine to champagne. If you’re one of them, you’re certainly not alone.
- Champagne is only made in the Champagne region of France. Sparkling wine can be made anywhere in the world.
- Champagne is naturally carbonated through a small amount of fermentation that occurs in the bottle. Sparkling wine is usually carbonated through forced carbon dioxide infusion like a soda.
- Champagne is a sparkling white wine. Sparkling wines can be any color because they are simply regular wines infused with carbon dioxide.
- Champagne must age properly to be ready to drink. Sparkling wines can be made in-house by infusing carbon dioxide into a bottle or glass before serving to guests.
- Champagne comes in a variety of flavors but they tend to be lighter berry or cherry flavors. Sparkling wine can be any flavor from light peach to deep blackberry, depending on the flavor of the carbonated wine.
- Champagne can be completely dry or very sweet like a dessert wine. This is one way that it is the same as other sparkling wines.
Whether you choose true champagne or another sparkling wine to enjoy, there really is a flavor and sweetness to please every palate.
Read our related article where we compare Wine vs Champagne! Explore the differences of these beloved beverages in a complete guide.
Should I Only Buy Champagne for My Event?
That depends on your crowd. If your attendees are accustomed to drinking champagne, then champagne is what they’ll expect.
If your attendees are more likely to enjoy a sweet wine, consider buying a fruity sparkling wine to celebrate with instead.
You’ll save money and your guests will enjoy the experience better.
If your wine selection will double for mixed drinks like wine spritzers, then invest in sparkling wine rather than champagne.
Some organizers buy several types of beverages to toast with. Servers can offer champagne, a red sweet sparkling wine, and a white sweet sparkling wine.
Not all guests consume alcohol. Consider having sparkling grape juice on hand for those who avoid alcohol and guests under 21 so they can toast and enjoy with everyone else.
Read our related article, How Much is a Bottle of Champagne? to get an idea of the costs you could be looking at for your event.
Does Champagne Lose Its Fizz?
Yes, champagne will lose its fizz a few days after opening.
If you can’t use the whole bottle right away, replace the cork as tightly as you can and store it in the refrigerator.
Champagne is best used within about 3 days of popping the cork.
Do I Open Champagne With a Corkscrew?
No, never use a corkscrew to open a champagne bottle.
Never hit the bottle with a knife, or in any other way jar the bottle. This disturbs the carbon dioxide infusion and ruins the flavor and aroma.
Instead, watch this video to learn how to perfectly open a champagne bottle.
This method preserves the champagne and helps to develop the flavor, aroma, and perfect bubbles of lovely champagne.
Read More: Frizzante vs Spumante. We take a deep dive into these two sparkling wines and outline their difference and uses!
Final Thoughts
Champagne is a delicious celebration beverage, but sparkling wine can also be a festive libation.
Consider the pros and cons of these various carbonated beverages before choosing one or more.